Carroll College - Hilltopper Yearbook (Helena, MT)

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The first year of the College marks the beginning of many traditions. The patronal feast of the College was celebrated on November 4. The annual retreat was first given in Holy Week from Wednesday, April 12 to Easter Sunday, April 1G. The Faculty and students were saddened by the death of Professor F. V. Vollert, instructor in Music, which occurred on April 12. The first annual track meet was held at the College Athletic Field on April 27. The first oratory and elocution contests were staged on June 1. Frank Sheehan winning the elocution and Joseph Riley the oratorical contest. The closing exercises were held on the scheduled date, June 14. The first students of College grade were registered at the openimr of school on September 12, 1911, Charles J. Gabisch, who had graduated from Mount St. Charles High School the preceding June, and Frank W. Carpino of Meaderville. Patrick McVeigh of Butte, our first College graduate, was registered for first college work in September, 1912. The second year of the life of Mount St. Charles marks the beginning of a number of organizations. The League of the Sacred Heart, the Holy Name Society, and the Brondel Literary Society were started on their ways, all of which contributed much to the interest and profit of the students during the years that followed. On Commencement Day, June 12, the appointment of the Reverend John L. McMullen as president to succeed the Reverend Stephen J. Sullivan, I).I)., was announced. Too, on July 1 of this year appeared the first College magazine, the Mount St. Charles Scholastic, a publication that was edited, in great part, by the members of the Faculty of the College and that was financed through the generosity of Helena Council 844 of the Knights of Columbus. The opening of the College in September, 1912, was marked by a fifty per cent increase in the enrollment over that of the previous year. This can be partially accounted for by the introduction of the commercial course, which was inaugurated that year. In the fall of 1912 the College acquired one of the finest collections of ores and minerals in the Northwest. The collection was long known as the Cosmopolitan Hotel Cabinet and was exhibited in that old-time hostelry. The cabinet was presented to the College by Mr. William Steuwe. Early in the year, 1913, Mr. James J. Hill of St. Paul pledged fifty thousand dollars to the endowment fund, which was being raised at that time. The year 1913-1914 continued to show an increase over its predecessor. During this year was established the “Thespian Club,” an organization devoted to dramatic productions. Its inspiration and director was the Reverend V. U. LeClair. Its first production, “On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine,” was staged at St. Helena’s Hall on November 4. Two other plays were staged during the year. Page thirtg-two

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to September 22 on account of a lack of furniture and school equipment, which had been delayed in shipment. Even on September 22, the entire building was not completed, and the boys pursued their studies under difficulties for some weeks. However, after a month the classes were in order, and the great work of the College had begun in earnest. For over a year efforts had been made to gather a Faculty that could successfully launch the new enterprise on its journey. The learning, zeal, and self-sacrifice of those early professors have been no small element in the growth and development of Mount St. Charles. Their names will be found in another part of this book. Necessarily, the beginnings of the institution were small. Classes were conducted from the sixth grade of elementary work through the work of High School. As yet, there were no students of College grade. The registrants for the fourth year of High School were the following: Charles Gabisch, Albert Wiegand. and Angus McKinnon of Helena; Emmet Riley and Will McDermott of Butte; Frank E. Sheehan of Lewistown, and Cecil Carolan of Forsyth. It is significant that of these, three, Charles Gabisch (now Father Thomas, O.P.) Will McDermott (now Father Stanislaus, O.P.), and Emmet Riley later pursued their studies to the priesthood. , The problem of the curriculum had been studied for over a year before the opening of the college. It embraced in its scope all the branches of commercial, English, scientific, classical, and philosophical training, though the teaching of all these branches, because of lack of students, was not put into effect immediately. It was the purpose of these interested in the College to gradually eliminate the lower classes as the years went on. The elementary classes were finally discontinued in 1919. It has been found that the lower classes gradually decreased in numbers as those of higher grade increased. The recreational activities of the students were not neglected. A whole section of the lower floor of the building was reserved for indoor sports; a hand ball alley had been erected to the northeast of the main building; a splendid baseball field had been prepared at the northwest end of the campus. In gratitude for the use of the baseball park, the Helena Baseball Association of the Intermountain League had erected a capacious grandstand and bleacher seats in the form of an ampitheater, which served its purpose until the fall of 1928. The recreational activities were under the direction of Mr. Charles Scullon, later ordained and as Father Scullon, a member of the Faculty of the College. It was in recognition of the pioneer work of Father Scullon in the field of athletics that the new athletic field of Mount St. Charles was called Scullon Field. Page thirty-one

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A twenty-five per cent increase in the enrollment marked the opening of the College in September, 1914. During this year there was inaugurated the first of the courses in philosophy, under the direction of Father Norbert C. Hoff. On September 23, on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the priesthood of Bishop Carroll, the Bishop paid the note for the last of the debt on the new institution, a sum of over $22,000. On November 16, Mr. James J. Hill redeemed his pledge by presenting his check for fifty thousand dollars to the endowment Fund, a gift he had promised on the condition that a like amount would be raised through other sources for the same purpose. The year, 1914, too marks the first football team of note in the College history, under the direction of Mr. Walter S. Yund. Of the athletics of the College, however, an account is given in another section of “The Pioneer.” The next scholastic year, 1915-1916 showed an increased student body and Faculty. At this time Mr. John D. Ryan of Butte made a donation of five thousand dollars to the Endowment Fund, the second gift he had made to this splendid cause. The usual activities were carried on. and traditions were becoming more firmly entrenched. In the spring of that year, was graduated our first College graduate, Mr. Patrick F. McVeigh, with the first degree conferred by the College. During the next year, 1916-1917, Father McMullen was succeeded by the Reverend Peter F. Macdonald as president of the College. The “Legion of Honor” was organized this year by the Reverend Patrick Casey. Devoted to honor of the Blessed Sacrament, the members were enthusiastic in their work and to the cause for which the organization was formed. The first quarterly issue of “The Prospector,” the successor to the “Scholastic,” appeared in November, 1916. under the direction of the Reverend John J. Tracy. On June 13, 1917, ground was broken for the new gymnasium and science building to be constructed during the summer months. It followed in the Gothic architectural lines and was constructed at right angles to the north of the main building. The ever-increasing numbers in the science classes made the new science faculties imperative. The new building was in course of construction during the next scholastic year and was ready for occupancy in the fall of 1918. September, 1917, marked the inauguration of the pre-professional courses to the college curricula. The great number of Montana boys who were preparing themselves for professional work made such courses a necessity if the College were to fulfill its purpose. The courses were immediately popular and accounted in some measure for the increased enrollment of that year. However, the entrance of the United States into Page lltirf u-three